Ferris State Moves In

FERRIS STATE CELEBRATES FIRST CHAPTER HOUSE

Ferris State Phi Sigs celebrate two chapters: Lambda Pentaton and Sigma Epsilon. They celebrate a chapter installed in 1966, a chapter closed in 1977, and a chapter rechartered after the merger of Phi Sigma Kappa and Phi Sigma Epsilon in 1985. The merged chapter is Sigma Epsilon.

Sigma Epsilon is a chapter that bridges eras of brothers and two fraternities. It is like every other chapter . . . but different.

Its alumni have occupied virtually every volunteer position in both PSK and PSE: chapter advisers, district governor, regional adviser, Foundation President, Foundation Trustees, Grand President, Grand Council Directors, as well as several professional IHQ staff positions.

Its brothers run successful businesses throughout the United States and Europe. They remember and mourn their brothers who join Chapter Eternal too soon. They know that it is easier to become number one than to stay there and aren’t afraid to remind you that they are from THE Ferris State University, a small D-2 school in Michigan. They are like members from every other chapter.

The chapter has won the all-sports trophy, Greek Weeks, and the hearts of phenomenal women who support them. It has been recognized as an outstanding chapter – once in the sixties, and six more times during the eighties and nineties. They tease, they challenge, they lead. They have fun. They celebrate success and close ranks when the world collapses in on them. They are like members from every other chapter.

But what the chapter has NEVER been is a chapter with an “official” recognized house, displaying letters − until now.

With the perseverance of Brother Bruce Lewallen (Ferris State ’91) and the assistance of Phi Sigma Kappa Properties, Sigma Epsilon just celebrated its first-ever Homecoming with a chapter house! Special thanks go to members of the Phi Sigma Kappa Properties Board

Shawn Shivnen (Eastern Michigan ’00), Brian Radke (Northern

Illinois ’05), and Mike Palm (Indiana ’04). LEFT TO RIGHT, GARY MILLER, JOHN BUSH, ROGER SHIFTAR, BUD HANNA, AND LENNY DAMICO.

Ferris State alumni enjoy tailgating during Homecoming weekend.

Gary Miller (Ferris State ’69), the first Lambda Pentaton initiate, was in attendance, along with some of the group’s most “seasoned” brothers: #10 John “Dumbo” D’Amour (Ferris State ’69), #28 Roger Schiftar (Ferris State ’67), #36 Fred Will IV (Ferris State ’69), #41 Lenny Damico (Ferris State ’69), #54 John Bush (Ferris State ’68), #56 Jim “Dog” Dallas (Ferris State ’68), #110 Dale Patterson (Ferris State ’72), #118 Mark Viel (Ferris State ’73), #124 Tom “T” Tallian (Ferris State ’73), #126 Bud Hanna (Ferris State ’70), and #135 John Lovelette (Ferris State ’71), as well as some of Sigma Epsilon’s most recently initiated brothers.

Brothers from the sixties to the present, brothers from PSE, and future brothers (who participated in the Ritual of Association that weekend) all came together to celebrate a multi-generational dream – THEIR house. One brother flew in from Boonville, MS, for just 24 hours to attend and celebrate this achievement with the Brotherhood.

Tailgating. Songs. Pictures. Awards. A pig roast. Lies, tall tales, and memories are shared between generations. Too much fun in too short a time. This group is like every other chapter during Homecoming . . . but different.

The group is proud to finally have a house to call their own. But it is like every other chapter.

Alumni struggle and strive to provide support for undergraduates, for, without them, the chapter would cease to exist. All that the chapter has been recognized for means nothing if the undergraduates aren’t supported.

The brothers from Ferris State challenge each brother still reading this to commit to supporting YOUR chapter in the coming year. Attend an annual event. Donate your time to a local chapter or the Grand Chapter of the Fraternity. Sponsor an undergraduate to attend Leadership School or Officer Academy.

Become like the brothers from Ferris State . . . but different.

PHI SIGMA KAPPA FOUN DATION ANNUAL REPORT

Brothers & Friends-

This year the Foundation worked with the Grand Council and Phi Sigma Kappa Properties to launch the Life Loyal initiative. Life Loyal asks alumni members to consider how their experiences with their Fraternity back in their college years helped to make them the men they are today. Further, it asks alumni members to recognize that they continue to obtain great value from their Fraternity through active social and supportive relationships with their Phi Sig friends throughout their lives. Phi Sigma Kappa is our 148-year-old Fraternity and its 60,000+ alumni members have the capacity to provide for its financial future and thereby support its undergraduate members and each other.

This year, as part of the Life Loyal initiative, each member of the Foundation Board of Trustees committed to increasing their annual personal gift from $1,000 to a minimum of $2,500. The Foundation worked with the Grand Council and Phi Sigma Kappa Properties to pledge $75,000 in Life Loyal gifts this year from the members of the Fraternity’s three governing boards.

To be recognized as Life Loyal, younger alumni are asked to provide $10 per month, $120 per year, in support after they graduate and begin their careers. Alumni who are 30 and older are asked to provide $21 per month, $250 annually. Members of the 4th Degree or higher are asked to provide at least $500 in annual support. Alumni Clubs and Housing Corporations are also asked to be Life Loyal each year by providing from $1,000 to $5,000, depending on the age and size of the chapter and its alumni group. Our undergraduate brothers can also be recognized as Life Loyal, as the 1873 Society becomes part of this initiative.

As reflected in the preliminary trustee format monthly financial statements, the annual campaign of the Foundation generated $366,241 in donations received in fiscal 2021 versus $329,562 in the prior fiscal year, an increase of 11%. Total gifts received in fiscal 2021 were $609,856 versus $1,124,020 in fiscal 2020 which included bequests of $509,190. Bequests received in 2021 were $5,380.

Funding to the Fraternity in fiscal 2021 was $302,429 versus $261,708 in the prior fiscal year.

After scholarships, grants, and expenses, the Foundation experienced a net increase in total assets in fiscal 2020 of $386,499. Of this total, $131,343 was unrestricted.

Audited financial statements of the Foundation for fiscal 2021 will be available by the end of the year. They will be posted to the Fraternity’s website when they become available.

Foundation’s Investment Portfolio Highlights for FY2021

The Foundation has two investment portfolios: capital preservation and balanced. The capital preservation portfolio is for funds that are expected to be extracted within 6 - 12 months for specific

PHI SIGMA KAPPA FOUN DATION ANNUAL REPORT

projects or activities. This portfolio is 100% liquid and invested only in U.S. Treasuries and FDIC-insured bank CDs that mature within six months. There is no market volatility in this portfolio and its market value was $14,300 at the end of Fiscal 2021. The much larger balanced portfolio is about 90% well-diversified in large cap, mid/small cap, and foreign exchange traded funds, while the remaining approximate 10% is in liquid assets that have no credit risk (or market volatility) and cash.

During Fiscal 2021, the balanced portfolio grew over 29% in value to end the year at over $1.9 million.

Capital infusions into the balanced portfolio were modest (under $3,000) during Fiscal 2021, however $37,000 of dividend/interest income and asset appreciation accounted for this growth. The balanced portfolio realized almost $84,000 in capital gains during Fiscal 2021 and ended the year with $314,000 in unrealized gains. The balanced portfolio’s distribution (i.e., dividend) yield averaged 2.3% during the year and the portfolio experienced a 30.4% total holding period return in Fiscal 2021.

Milestones and the Year Ahead

Life Loyal

As we begin fiscal 2022 Phi Sigma Kappa will continue to build a culture of Life Loyal support among our 60,000+ alumni members. Life Loyal Phi Sigs are committed to providing financial support to our Fraternity each and every year. Through Life Loyal we will harness the financial power of our alumni brothers so that the needs of the Fraternity will no longer solely rest only on the shoulders of our undergraduate members. This is our precious Fraternity, and we, its members, will work together to provide for its financial future.

Day of Giving

Several years ago, Grand Council Director David Cohen (Union ’88) observed that other nonprofit organizations executed Days of Support, or Giving, and had success with these fundraising events. His suggestion that the Foundation establish a Day of Giving resulted in our first Phi Sig Day of Giving in 2018. That year, on March 15 with a goal of raising $25,000, Phi Sigma Kappa raised more than $40,000.

This past year Phi Sigma Kappa held its 4th Annual Day of Giving, with a goal of raising $150,000. Working together, we raised more than $182,000. We look forward to seeing all chapters and their alumni thoroughly represented and participating in future Days of Giving as word spreads of this important fundraising event.

For all of those who helped us achieve this record Day of Giving gift level, the Foundation, and the Fraternity, thank you.

DON’T BE LEFT OUT – JOIN LIFE LOYAL TODAY! PHISIGMAKAPPA.ORG/LIFELOYAL

Estate Gifts: A Lasting Legacy in Support of Phi Sig

This summer, we gathered for our 68th biennial General Convention and enjoyed the fellowship and the warmth of our Brotherhood. We encouraged one another to recognize Phi Sigma Kappa through the Foundation in our individual estate plans. For it is through estate gifts that Foundations do not spend on annual operating costs that earnings generating portfolios are built to enrich their Fraternities.

When the Foundation receives bequests as a result of a brother recognizing the Fraternity in his estate plans, these monies are utilized for their restricted purpose. When no specific purpose is provided, bequests are added to the Foundation’s board designated Chapter Eternal Education Fund where they will provide for Phi Sigma Kappa’s educational expenses, and support our undergraduates, in perpetuity.

Thank You

Brothers, spouses, families, and friends—we can’t thank you enough for your financial support and helping us to realize our financial goals in this past year. During a pandemic we stood together to protect and enrich our Fraternity, its undergraduates, and each other.

Let us all now join and be Life Loyal and appreciate the tremendous importance of Phi Sig in our lives and the value and fellowship it provides through our friends and brothers each and every year.

As always, we promise to use your gifts to enrich our undergraduate brothers. It is through your support that we will secure the financial future of Phi Sigma Kappa and help our undergraduate brothers to realize their full potential as men of character committed to living by the Golden Rule and treating all others and themselves with respect and dignity.

Through your continued support by witness of their character and conduct our undergraduate brothers will grow to be known as honorable men and Phi Sigma Kappa will bring the gift of our Fraternity to endless future generations.

Fraternally,

John Sheehan Nicholas R. Zuniga President, 2020-2021 Executive Director